Arrangement for the intensive transportation of persons



Oct. 19 1926.

F. KRUCKE NBERG ARRANGEMENT FOR T'HE INTENSIVE TRANSPORTATION OF PERSONS jet 1 Filed Jan. 2%. 1925 2 Sheets-Sh Oct. 19. 1926.

F. KRUCKENBERG ARRANGEMENT FOR THE INTENSIVE TRANSPORTATION OF PERSONS Filed Jan. 2-4 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imam JH llllllllllllllllll Patented Get. 19, 1926.

UNITED stares PATENT OFFECE.

ERANZ KRUOKENBERG, on Harm-mm, GERMANY.

ARRANGEMENT non THE INTENSIVE tr nnnsfeon'ra'rron or" reasons.

Application filed January 24,1925, Serial No. 4.578, and in Germany September 29, 1924.

The steadily increasing concentration of the business trailic in most or the great townsinto a relatively small area has the tendency to render inadequate at certain hours of the day all existing methods for transporting persons, On the existing underground the train frequency cannot be increased and motor c ars cannot find any more mom on the streets. There have already been several suggestions for filling this deficiency but they could not be carried out owing to practical difficulties.

dVith the present invention a solution of the practical di'lliculties is offered which makes possible the handling and rapid distribution of great numbers of people in a relatively shorttime. In this invention it is provided thatasufliciently high speed is attained and that the passengers shall not lose time waitingfor other passengers to" enter'or leave the transport-body.

The presentinvention utilizes an endless band as main transporter which travels at a constant speed on rails of about 24 miles per hour. Two separate bands are employed running parallelin opposite directions. In conjunction with these main bands, auxiliary bands, hereinafter called feederbands are employed serving to convey the passengers between the stations and the moving ma'in bands so that they do not have to step bet-ween bodies moving at dit-' terent speeds. In order to accomplish this the teederbands are arranged so that they run beside the main bands as an endless chain or in some other convenientform, the speed being controlled so that in the station it nioves at walking speed i. e., about two miles per hour, but runs beside the main bands at the same speed as these latter. In this manner it is made possible for the passe'ngersto ascend the tleederb'and in the statiOn and at the same time the passengers can step between the teede'rband and the main hand without diflic'ulty' as it runs beside it atthe same speed.

This principle can be put into practice in several different ways. The 'fieederband' can be so arranged that it shortens itself in the stations as the speed decreases while it elon gates when it runs over those parts of the track where connection is made with the main band. It appears to be bestto form the teedcrband as an endless chain of t coupled together. Two examples ot cl". at ears ari-angfmil accordii'lg to this lawtion are shown diagrammatically in Figs.

1-5 of the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the elevation of the first arrangement,

Fig. 2 the plan of Fig; 1,

Fi 3 the section of the first arrangement, Fig. at the plan of the second arrange ment,

Fig. 5 the" section of the second arrange ment.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate the method of turning the cars of the feeder band through Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the cars of the feeder band as seen from the main band.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the feeder band car and the main travelling band.

Fig. lQjs a plan view of the feeder band and main band.

The main bands (a opposite directions as shown by arrows. Parallel to the track of the main hands (1 runs the track of the feed'erbandsb which traverse the entrance and exit halls or stations where I them. The tracks are shown broken between U and U tracks are some hundreds of yards long; As the drawings show the width of the feederb-and 7) increases gradually" when approaching the station 0. Further for practical reasons the feeder-band stations 0 have been arranged above the track of the main band and those parts oflthe feederband lying between stations. This arrangementis not essential. The teederband stations can be constructed at the same level as the main bands.

In the construction indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 the feederbands-lie on each side of the two main bands which run between them in opposite directions. In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a'teederbandalso runs on each side of each main band so that there are still further statons between those shown in 2 and 3, making tour feederbands in all.

In the practical application of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the feederhands consist of separate cars coupledto ea ch other in a continuous chain, their length in proportion to their width having the same ratio as their maximum to their minimum speeds. Taking the minimum and maximum speeds as 2 miles per hour and 24 miles per hear respectively. the ide'rband care. 5111p run parallel but in' the passengers enter or leave In practice these ill posing them to have a width of two feet, would then have a length of 2st feet. These teederband cars have a movement such that they pass through the stations with their longer sides at right angles to the direction of motion and so can only be entered and left by means of their short sides. l l here they make connection with the main band they run coupled together with their long sides parallel to the direction of mot on so that persons enter and leave by these sides.

In order that each teederband car as it moves along the track shall be turned through degrees the method shown in either Fig. 6 or 7 can be used. two methods that shown in Fig. in which the cars are coupled together in the manner ol a folding-rule can be carr ed out in a technically easier manner.

The cars d run with either end on the rails e and f. These rails are superimposed between the points U and U converging and diverging respectively be fore and after this period, hav ng their greatest separation between O and O (see also Figs. 1, 2, 4-). In order that these arrangements can be constructed and so that the cars shall have smiicient stability, the rail f is arranged on the ground and the rail 6 above the car or vice-versa, so that the car runs with one end on the rail f and the other end suspended from the rail (2 or vice-versa. In practice therefore those parts of the feederband between U and U are constructed as an underground railway, while the stations 6 from O to 0 are. at street level. The tteederband cars are driven either directly or indirectly by means of the main band with which they are coupled in some convenient manner between U and U In this way persons -an step from one band to the other without inconvenience. The "feeder-band is driven in the stations from O to O for example by means of a belt or chain driven by the main band and giving in this case a velocity ratio of 12 to 1.

The deta ls of the arrangement of the l'eederband cars shown in F ig. 7 is indicated in Figs. 8 to 10. Fig. 8 shows the feederband ears as seen from the main band, Fig. 9 a vertical section through feederband cars and main band and Fig. 10 a plan of both.

In order to obtain a fold ng movement of the cars, they are coupled together by means of lin rs (5 and (5 arranged respectively at the bottom and top of the car. In this way every car is at one end coupled at the bottom and at the other at the top with its neighboring car. The lower coupling links al rest on bogies g on the rails f. The upper coupling link (5 hangs from a boge I2. running on the upper rail Z. In this way itis made possible for the feederband cars to arrange themselves in close forma- Of these tion either with their long sides or short s des contiguous. As Fig. 9 shows the floor ot' the teederband cars is at the same height as that of the main band, so that during the time that both bands are runnin side b 1 side passengers may stop from one to the other at will.

Fig. 8 shows that the ieederband oars approaching the station 0 are being gradually elevated. Consequently the bogies d come up to the level of the platform a", and also above it and therefore a guard i is provided below the floors of the feederband cars to prevent people from getting beneath the floor or between the bogies d of the moving cars. As soon as the feederband cars have reached such a height that the people cannot step onto them from the main band, the open sides of the feederband cars are closed by means of some suitable arrangement such as a rigid barrier raised from the floor or flexible barrier imrolling from the root. The necessary movement can be given by means of a rail rising in a ramp from the ground. The guards i can also be arranged to rise up as soon as they are no longer needed for protecting the ho- The tcederband cars are shut on one long side by a wall n while the ends are closed by means of barriers 0 opening inwards and that spring shut auto matically.

The main. hands are closed at one side by a wall Z and on the other at some distance t'i om the edge by a railing at provided with numerous openings. The passengers normally remain between the wall Z and the railing m. l Vhen about to leave the main band the passenger steps through an opening in. the rail in and awaits the approach of the teederband. Since the feed erband cars run at the same level and at the same speed as the main band. the pa engcr can pass from one band to the other w thout any hurry because both bands run together for several hundred yards.

When the iieederband cars arrive at the station 0 the passengers can enter or lea e the car by pushing open the barrier 0.

The capacity of the arrangement herein described can be estimated in the following manner. The distance betw en the feederband stations is about 600 yards in the case of the arrangement in .2 and 3. and each station can convey to and from the main band about 50,000 people per hour. Provided that the main band has such a width that it can conveniently receive the stream of: passengers brought to by the feederband and supposing that there are 10 feederbane. stations, about 500.000 persons will be transported per hour. o can suppose the speed of the main band to be about 2-1 miles per hour. ca-

This great pacity can be still further increased by in llfl troducii'ig between thetwomain bands a platforms running with normal conveying speed-onone of said tracks and being connected .with one another to form a practically endless platform constituting the primary conveyingmeans; and other continually travelling platforms also connected with one another,andrunning.on the other track with gradually increasing and decreasing speed which is sodetermined that passengers can step over from the station platforms upon any of the feeder platforms passing through a station, and from the respective feeder platform upon any of the primary platforms at some distance behind therrespective station, substantially. as set forth.

2. .A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbersof passengers, comprising, in combination: station-platforms; continually travelling platforms moving with normal conveying speed and beingv connected with one anotherto form a practically endless platform constituting the primary conveying means; and other,vcomparatively long and narrow, also contin- .ually travelling platforms which are also connected with one another, moving at the SIClGO'l said endless primary platform and forming secondary -or {feeding platforms,

these platforms being adaptedto be turned horizontally for 90degrees, in such a mannor that each thereof can stand at right angles with respect to the direction .of motion vwhen moving through a station, its speed being then such that passengers can step over thereon from the respective station-platform, and extends longitudinally in the directionof motion-outside the station, at some distance therefrom, substantially as set forth.

3. A railway for the uninterrupted con veyance of-big numbersof passengers, comprising, in combination: station-platforms; continually travelling platforms moving with normal conveying speed and, being connected with one another to form a practically endless ,platform constituting the primary conveying means; and other, comparatively long and narrow, also continually travelling platforms which are connected with. one another at their ends alternately on opposite sides ,SOi as to be adapted to be placedside by side, and whichinove at the side of said endless primary platform and serve asfeeders therefor;;these feeder platforms being moved relatively to thestations, .in such a way that they are situated at right- ,angleswith respect to the direction of motion when ,moving. through a station, its

speed beingithen such that passengers can step over thereon from. the respective plat- ,form, :and that they extend longitudinally -1n the direction of motion outside the station, atsome distance thereof, substantially as set-forth.

4. A railway for the-uninterrupted conveyance of big numbersof passengers, comprising, in. combination two parallel tracks.

the gauge of onethereof widening at the station-platforms; continu'ally travelling platforms running with normal conveying speed on that track, the gauge of-which does not widen, and-being connected-with one anotherto form a practically endless olatform .constitutin the arimar 1 conve ing means and other continually travelling platforms also connected with-one another and running-on the other track, their speed being so decreased and increased -by,the changes of the gauge of thistrack that passengers can. step over thereon fromthe respective platform. and that they extend longitudinally in the direction of motion out side the station, at some distance .therefrom, substantially as set forth.

5. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passen'gers,:compris1ng,,1n combination :two parallel tracks,

the gaugepf one thereof widening at the station-platforms; continually travelhng t ll platforms running with vnormal conveying speed on that track, thegauge of whichdoes not widen, and being connected with ,one another to form a practically endless platform constituting the primary conveying meansyand other,comparatively long and narrow, "also continually travelling platforms which are also connected with mean other, :moving at the side f said endless primary platform and forming secondary or feeding platforms, these platforms being adapted to be: turnedhorizontally for 90 degrees,-in'such-a manner that each thereof can stand at right angles with respect to :the direction ofmotion whenimoving through a station, its speed beingthen such that passengers can step over thereon from the respective station-platform, and extendslongitudinally in the direction of motionoutside the station, at some distance therefrom, substantially as set forth.

6. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passengers, comprising, in combination: station-platforms; continually travelling platforms moving withnormal conveyin speedand being connected with one another tosforma practical- 1y endless platform constituting the pi mary conveying means; and other, comparatively long and narrow, also continually travelling platforms which are also connected with one another, moving at the side of said endless primary platform and forming secondary or feeding platforms; bogies supporting said latter platforms at their ends; these platforms being adapted to be turned horizontally for 90 degrees, in such a manner that each thereof can stand at right angles with respect to the direction of motion when moving through a station, its speed being then such that passengers can step over thereon from the respective station-platform, and extending longitudinally in the direction of motion outside the station, at some distance thereof, substantially as set forth.

7. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passengers, comprising, in combination: two parallel tracks, the gauge of one thereof widening at the station-platforms; continually travelling platforms running with normal conveying speed on that track, the gauge of which does not widen, and being connected with one another to form a practically endless platform constituting the primary conveying means; and other, comparatively long and narrow, also continually travelling platforms which are also connected with one another, move at the side of said endless primary platform and form secondary or feeding platforms; bogies supporting said latter platforms at their ends; these platforms being at their ends and running on the track having therein alternately widening and contracting gauge, the widest gauge corresponding to the distance between the two bogies of said latter platforms, these platforms being adapted to be turned horizontally for 90 degrees, in such a manner that each thereof can stand at right angles with respect to the direction of motion when moving through a station, its speed being then such that. passengers can step over thereon from the respective station-platform, and extends longitudinally in the direction of motion outside the station, at some distance therefrom, substantially as set forth. y

8. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passengers, comprising, in combination two parallel tracks; station-platforms; continually travelling platforms running wit-h normal conveying speed on one of said tracks and being said endless primary platform and forming secondary or feeding platforms, these platforms being adapted to be turned horizontally for 90 degrees supported by bogies located at the ends thereof, and being also connected with one another moving at the side of said endless primary platform, and forming secondary or feeding platforms;

rails supporting the bogies at one end of said latter platforms being overhead-rails, and these platforms being moved with continually increasing and decreasing speed which is so determined that passengers can step over from the station platforms upon any of the feeder platforms passing through a station, and from the respective feeder platform upon any of the primary plat forms at some distance behind the respective station, substantially as set forth.

9. A railway for the uninterrupted con veyance of big numbers of passengers, comprising, in combination: two parallel tracks; station-platforms; continually travellin platforms running with normal conveying speed on one of said tracks and being connected with one another to form a practically endless platform constituting the primary conveying means; and other continually travelling platforms also connected with one another and running on the other track gradually increasing and decreasing speed which is so determined that passengers can step over from the station platforms upon any of the feeder platforms passing through a station, and from the respective feederplatform upon any of the primary platforms at some distance behind the respective station; and bogies at the ends of all platforms, each secondary or feeder platforms having one normally positioned bogey and an overhead-bogey, and the appertaining track comprising normally positioned an overhead rail, substantially as set forth.

10. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passengers, com prising, in combination: station-platforms; continually travelling platforms moving with normal conveying speed and being con nected with one another to form a practically endless platform constituting the primary conveying means; and other continually travelling platforms and couplings connecting these platforms with one another, these platforms moving at the side of said endless primary platform, forming secondary or feeding platforms, and being moved with continually increasing and decreasing speed which is so determined that passengers can step over from the station platforms upon any of the feeder platforms passing through a station, and from the respective feeder platform upon any of the primary platforms at some distance behind the respective station, substantially as set forth.

11. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passengers, comprising, in combination: station-platforms; parallel tracks, of which that, nearer to said platforms lies higher than the other track at those portions which pass through stations; continually traveling platforms run nin'g with normal conveying speed on' said" the respective feeder platform upon any of the primary platforms at some distance be hind the respective station, substantially as set forth.

12. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passengers, comprising, in combination: station-platforms; parallel tracks, of which that nearerto said platforms lies higher than the other track at those portions which pass through stations; continually travelling platforms running with normal conveying speed on said other track and being connected with one another to form a practically endless platform constituting the primary conveying means; and other continually travelling platforms also connected with one another, moving at the side of said endless primary platform on the partly ascending track and forming secondary or feeding platforms, and being moved with continually increasing and decreasing speed which is so determined that passengers can step over from the station platforms upon any of the feeder platforms passing through a station, and from the respective feeder platform upon any of the primary platforms at some distance behind the respective station, the driving power being supplied to the said secondary or feeder platforms at those portions of their path where they run with the same speed as the said primary endless platform, substantially as set forth.

13. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passengers, comprising, in combination, station platforms, parallel tracks, of which that nearer said platform lies higher than the other track at those portions which pass through stations, continually travelling platforms running with normal conveying speed on said other track and being connected with one another so as to form a practically endless platform constituting the primary conveying means, and other continually travelling platforms also connected with one another, moving at the side of said endless primary platform on the partly ascending track and forming secondary or feeding platforms and being moved with continually increasing and decreasing speed which is so determined thatpassengers can step over'from the station platforms upon any of the feeder'platforms passing through a station and from the respective feeder platform upon any of the primary platforms at some distance behind the respective station, the driving power being supplied to the said secondary or feeder platforms at those portions of their path where they run with the same speed as the said primary endless platform and being transmitted to the secondary or feeder platforms with the aid of the primary platform, substantially as set forth.

14. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passengers, comprising, in combination: station-platforms; parallel tracks, of which that nearer to said platforms lies higher than the other track at those portions which pass through stations, the ascending portions of this track commencing outside the stations at an appropriate distance therefrom; continually travelling platforms running with normal conveying speed on said other track and being connected with one another to form a practically endless platform constituting the primary conveying means; and other continually travelling platforms also connected with one another, moving at the side of said endless primary platform and the partly ascending track and forming secondary or feeding platforms, and being moved with continually increasing and decreasing speed which is so determined that passengers can step over from the station platforms upon any of the feeder platforms passing through a station, and from the respective feeder platform upon any of the primary platforms at some distance behind the re spective station, substantially as set forth.

15. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passengers, com prising, in combination: station-platforms: parallel tracks, of which that nearer to said platforms lies higher than the other track at those portions which pass through stations, the ascending portions of this track commencing outside the stations at an appropriate distance therefrom; continually travelling platforms running with normal conveying speed on said other track and being connected with one another to form a practically endless platform constituting the primary conveying means; and other continually travelling platforms also connected with one another, moving at the side of said endless primary platform on the partly as cending track and forming secondary or feeding platforms, and being moved with continually increasing and decreasing speed which is so determined that passengers can step over from the station platform upon any of the primary platforms at some distance behind the respective station, each secondary or feeder platform being closed at its two ends and at one of its longitudinal sides; and means for closing automatically also the normally open longitudinal side of each secondary or feeder platform When this has ascended on an ascending portion of the appertaining track so much that passengers can no more step over onto it from the pri mary platform, substantially as set forth. 16. A railway for the uninterrupted conveyance of big numbers of passengers, compri ing, in combination; station-platforms; parallel tracks, of which that nearer to said platforms lies higher than the other track at those portions which pass through stations, the ascending portions of this track commencing outside the stations the appropriate dis tance therefrom; continually travelling platforms running with normal conveying speed on said other track and being connected With one another to form practically endless platform constituting the primary conveying means; and other continually travelling platforms also connected With one another, moving at the side of said endless primary platform on the partly ascending track and forming secondary or feeding platforms, and being moved With continually increasing and decreasing speed which is so determin d that passengers can step over from the station platform upon any of the primary platforms at some distance behind the respective station, each secondary or feeder platform being closed at its two ends and at one of its longitudinal sides; and vertically movable Walls adapted to close also the normally open longitudinal side of each secondary or feeder platform and being located on that side adjacent to the other track, and covering in its lowered position the bogies of the respective platform; and means for lifting automatically said walls when the platforms concerned are ascending on the appertaining track so much that passengers can no more step over onto them from the primary platform substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRANZ KR-UCKENBERG. 

